Packing retainer for journal boxes



Jan. 7, 1958 D. B. ORTLEB PACKING RETAINER FOR JOURNAL BOXES 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 26, 1956 60 lNl/EA/TOE .oouems 5/ 7);

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11/5 AT oR NEV Jan. 7, 1958 D. B. ORTLEB 2,819,126

PACKING RETAINER FOR JOURNAL BOXES 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 W12. M]? 5 L HFiled Sept. 26, 1956 lA/VfA/TCE noucams 5. 027155 H15 HTToeA/E/ PACKINGRETAINER FOR JOURNAL BOXES Douglas B. Ortleb, St. Louis, Mo. ApplicationSeptember 26,1956, Serial. No. 612,214

7 Claims. (Cl; 308"-89) h present, invention relates generally to meansfor lubricating the journal portionsnof railway car axles, and 1s. vcontinuation-impart of my abandoned application Serial, No.548,922,,filed on November 25, 1 955.

It is commonknowledge that most of the railway rolling, stock equipmentin use at the present time, particularly equipment in the freight carcategory,.includes wheelsupported axles that terminate at each end in ajournal portion extending into a journal box.

These journal boxes areso formed as. to provide therein a cavity orwell, wherein a mass of oil-soaked waste or packing material ismaintained in contact with the underside of the journal whereby toinsure the constant lubrication thereof;

Heretofore-numerous devices have beendeveloped and employed for thepurpose not only or" maintaining the packing in contact with thejournal, but also of preventing travel'of the packing in consequence ofjournal rotations. However, none of these prior art devices have beenfound adequate to overcome the old hot box problemthat has plaguedrailwayoperations for years.

The majority of railway freight car journal boxes presentlyin useinclude a cavity or well filled with a mass of packing material that is,or at least should be permeated with lubricant. Normally, a sufiicientquantity of said packing material is placed in the journal box to insurelubri'cant transfer at all times to the lower periphery of the journalportion of the axle that extends into said box, as is well understoodlHowever, as isalsowell known and understood, this-packing materialinvariably tends to depart from its effective disposition in consequenceof the movements of the journal during train operations.

Thus for example, when a freight car is in motion, the rotatingjournalsfrequently shiftin an endwise direction, that is, longitudinally of thejournal boxes. In order to accommodate these movements of each journal,the brass These repeated endwise movements of the rotating journalgradually cause the packing to move outwardly in tlie box, so that anever-increasing area of the'journal adjacent the fillet is deprived oflubrication, thus producing a condition wherein heat develops in thebrass member. Eventually, the packing works its way outwardly to rollupwardly between the terminal flange of the journal and the arcuatewell-defining outer wall of the box, so that the packing becomes, so tospeak, wadded in the spaces surrounding the outermost portion of thejournal.

As an, increased portion of the journal is thus incrementally deprivedof lubricant, the heat'factor obviously is intensified. Further, whenthemass of' packing continues to build up in the box, the combined endwiseand rotary movements of the journal result in fragments of packing beingintroduced, between the hotbrass and now 3.189; heated, journal,wherefore a hotv box condition develops.

2,8 19,126 Patented Jan. 7,. 1958 The primary object of myinventiontherefore, is to provide a novel device of simple constructionthat is adapted to minimize the development of hot boxes in rail wayequipment.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device adapted for use inconventional journal boxes without requiring any structural changeswhatever in them.

Journal boxes of the type under consideration are provided with anaccess opening in the outer wall thereof for depositing the packing andadding lubricant thereto at intervals. Normally these openings are.closed by means of spring-biased lids or cover members.

it is a further object of. the present invention to provide a packingretainer device thatmay be inserted into and properly positioned withinthe. journal. box, and removed therefrom, via said access opening.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel packing retainerthat lends itself readily to packaging and shipping in quantities, aswillappear.

Broadly, the packing retainer of. the present invention comprises a pairof spaced side plates of metallic material that are joined by a pair ofspaced straps of spring metal material. These four elements form agenerally rectangular frame as fabricated, but as will appearhereinafter, said frame when inserted in a journal box will assume agenerally U-shaped configuration. The side plates each include a flangesegment adapted when the retainer is in use to extend toward the journalin a plane below the axis thereof. As will be more clearly explained,these flanges serve to confine the packing against upward movementsthereof from beneath said journal, irrespective of the directionalrotations of the car axle. The flanges referred to are covered by rubbersheathing so as to obviate damage to the journal should. the lattershift its position during train operations. Associated with said frameis a substantially crescent-shaped barrier plate adapted to con fine thepacking material against outward movements thereof from beneath saidjournal. This barrier plate is rigid withtthe .bight portion of agenerally U-shaped heavy wire element by means of which the barrierassembly may be manually inserted via the journal box access openingafter the frame had beeninserted. Complemental means are provided on theframe and the barrier assembly for releasably locking the latter inposition.

From the foregoing general description, it should be evident that thepacking retainer device of my invention consists of but two components,namely a frame, and a barrier plate assembly. As will be explained ingreater detail hereinafter, said frame member would first be manuallybent to U-shaped. configuration and inserted into a journal box by wayof the access opening. Tliereupon an appropriate quantity of packingmaterial would be deposited beneath the journal, whereupon the barrierplate assembly would be placed in position. Thereafter it would only benecessary to supply lubricant at regular intervals in order to insureagainst hot box developments and the train delays, and at times the carderailments, incident thereto.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated on two sheets ofdrawings that accompanies this specification. Objects and advantages notset forth in detail hereinbefore, and a more comprehensive understandingof my invention will be apparent from the detailed descrip tion thatfollows, reference being bad to said drawings wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of the frame member of a packing retainer deviceconstructed in accordance with the conceptsof the present invention;

Figure 2 is an inner end view of said frame;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale taken onthe line 33 ofFigure 1;.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale taken onthe line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an outer end view of said frame member as it would appearwhen manually bent to U-shaped configuration for insertion into ajournal box through the access opening thereof;

Figure 7 is an outer end elevational view of a barrier plate assemblyconstructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

Figure 8 is an inner end elevational view of said assembly;

Figure 9 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure .10 is a sectional top plan View of said assembly taken on theline 1010 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through aconventional journal box, demonstrating the present invention inoperative disposition therein; and

Figure 12 is a transverse vertical view through said journal box takenon the line 12-12 of Figure 11.

With reference first to Figures 11 and 12, a typical journal box housingH is illustrated with the journal portion I of a railway car axle Aextending thereinto. In the customary arrangement shown, the usualbearing plate or brass element B is retained atop the journal I by meansof a wedge member designated M, that is interposed between the top wallof the housing and said brass element. The journal-engaging portion ofthe brass element consists of a Babbitt lining L that is bonded orintegrated into the body of said element. The bottom wall combines withthe lower portions of the outer, inner, and side walls of the housing Hto form the usual lubricant well designated W. An access opening 0 isprovided in the outer end Wall of the housing, this opening beingnormally closed by a pivotally mounted spring-biased cover member C. Anaxle opening usually sealed by a dust guard D is formed in the inner endwall of the housing H. At its outer end the journal I terminates in acollar or circular flange F, and at its inner end in a fillet portionthat merges into the main body of the axle A. At its outer end, thehousing H is provided with a pair of transversely spaced abutment lugsfor limiting longitudinal movements of the wedge member M in an outwarddirection. These abutment lugs are integral with and depend from the topwall of the housing I-I inwardly of the opening 0. Only one of saidabutment lugs is shown, it appearing in Figure 11 where it is designatedAL. The arrangement and all of the elements thus far described are ofwell known standard construction. And as hereinbefore noted, the presentinvention contemplates no changes whatever in this typical journal boxconstruction.

The novel packing retainer device of my invention, as also hereinbeforenoted, consists of two components: a frame designated in its entirety bythe numeral 20, and a barrier-plate assembly designated in its entiretyby the numeral 50.

The frame 20, as fabricated and when not in use, is illustrated inFigures 1 through 5. Said frame includes a pair of transversely spacedside plates 22 connected by a pair of longitudinally spaced inner andouter straps 24 and 25 respectively. The side plates 22 are metallic,and the straps are of highly resilient spring steel material. The endsof said straps are riveted as indicated at 26, or otherwise rigidlysecured to the side plates.

The outer end of each side plate terminates in an extension 28, and eachof said extensions terminates in an integral flange segment 30 normalthereto as shown. Provided in each flange 30, in approximate alinementwith the outermost edge of the strap 25, is a notch 32 for a purpose toappear. Forwardly of the extension 28, each side plate 22 has anintegral flange 34 normal thereto that is encased within a rubber sheath36. Rivets 38 passing through said flange and sheath permanently securethe latter in place. The corner portion 40 of each extension 28 iscurved slightly as indicated at 42. Rigidly secured to the strap 25 byrivets 44 as shown, or otherwise, is a pair of transversely spaced lockfingers 46.

From the foregoing description and the drawings, it should be apparentthat the frame 20 lends itself readily to stacking for shipment inquantities. When in use as will be more comprehensively explained, saidframe assumes a configuration approximating that illustrated in Figure6.

The assembly 50 is illustrated per se in Figures 7 through 10. Itincludes a crescent-shaped barrier plate 52 and a generally U-shapedrelatively heavy wire element S4. The lower marginal edge 56 of theplate 52 has formed therein a pair of indentations or notches 58 thatare spaced correspondingly to the lock fingers 46 of the frame 20.Adjacent each notch 58, the barrier plate is preferably provided with anintegral upwardly curved extension 60 as shown. Numeral 61 indicates theupper marginal edge of the plate 52. The bight portion 62 of the wireelement 54 is welded as at 64, or otherwise rigidly secured, to theouter face of the barrier plate 52, and the free legs 66 of said elementterminate in undulated end portion 68 adapted to engage theundersurfaces of the abument lugs AL when the packing retainer of myinvention is in use. Each end portion 68 includes a downwardly slopingsegment 70 adapted to be engaged by the closed cover member C when theretainer is in position, as shown in Figure 11.

Use

Assuming that it were desired to install the present invention in ajournal box of the type illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, all packingmaterial at such time in the box would first be removed by way of theaccess opening 0.

Thereupon the frame 20 would be manually bent as suggested in Figure 6and then compressed sufliciently to facilitate its insertion via theopening 0 and its subsequent disposition beneath the journal in the WellW, as should be apparent. With the frame now in place, the inherentresiliency of the supporting straps 24 and 25 would automatically causethe side plates 22 to firmly bear against the side walls of the housingH as best seen in Figure 12. Consequently said frame would be maintainedrigidly in position, with the central portions of the straps 24 and 25in contact, or at least in approximate contact, with the bottom wall ofthe housing.

After the frame 20 had thus been positioned, a sulficient quantity ofpacking P would be inserted to substanflanges 34 of the side plates 22also cooperate with the journal to define the space to be packed.

Next, the barrier plate assembly 50 would be inserted diagonallydownwardly through the opening 0 unt1l the notches 58 engaged over thelock fingers 46, whereupon inward manual pressure applied to the legs 66would cause them to snap into the notches 32 of the side plate ex--tension flanges 30. Simultaneously, the undulated upper end portions 68of said legs would engage the undersurfaces of the abutment lugs AL,wherefore it should be apparent that the assembly 50 will be releasablylocked-in position at six separate points. The curved extensions 60 bearagainst the outer end wall of the housing and serve to maintain thebarrier plate 52 in contact with the outer edge of the strap 25. Theupper marginal edge 61 of said barrier plate is designed to provideadequate clearance between it and the journal flange F to facilitate po.sitioning of the assembly 50. The corner portions 40 of the side plateextensions 28 are curved as at 42 .to conform at least approximatelywith the curvature of the adjacent outer end wall of the housing H.

Following installation of the frame 20, the packing P, and the barrierplate assembly 50, the well W would be enlarge supplied with lubricantin suflicient quantity to permeate said packing. It is an outstandingfeature of the invention, that once the present packing retainer devicehas been installed in a journal box, it is only necessary to replenishthe lubricant at regular intervals without disturbing or in .any wayadjusting said device. In other words, the present invention provides alubrication arrangement that not only minimizes the development of hotboxes, but also simplifies the lubrication of journals once the retainerand packing have been placed in operative position.

It should be noted with attention directed to Figure 11, that when thespring biased-:to-closed-position cover member C is in closure status,the inner face thereof bears against the free downwardly slopingsegments 70 of the wire element Manifestly, this feature provides anadditional safeguard against displacement of the barrierplate assemblyduring train operations.

It should be manifest in contemplation of the foregoing description andthe drawings, that the present invention may readily be applied tojournal boxes currently in service, as well as to new rolling stockequipment. In fine, the packing retainer of this invention is believedto provide for the railway industry a comparatively inexpensive solutionof the hot box problem, and simultaneously to provide an efiicientjournal-lubricating installation that requires only the periodicaladdition of lubricant to insure highly efiicient operation.

Although 'the preferred embodiment thereof has been illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that slight structural changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the basic concept andspirit of the invention as defined in the claims hereunto appended.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a journal box having an access opening in itsouter end wall, a spring-biased cover member normally closing saidopening, an axle opening in its inner end wall, a well portion forcontaining packing material, and an axle extending through said axleopening and terminating in a journal suspended above said well: a devicefor preventing displacement of the packing material relatively to saidjournal in consequence of journal movements comprising: a generallyrectangular frame adapted to be bent into a substantially U-shapedconfiguration to facilitate its insertion into said box via said accessopening disposed beneath the journal in said well portion, said frameincluding a pair of transversely spaced side plates that are joined by apair of longitudinally spaced straps of spring metal material, theinherent re siliency of said straps automatically causing said plates tobear against the journal box side walls whereby to maintain the framerigidly in position; means provided on the upper ends of the side platesto confine packing material disposed beneath said journal against upwardmovements thereof; a barrier assembly also insertable via said accessopening to confine said packing material against outward movementsthereof, said assembly including a crescent-shaped plate, a generallyU-shaped relatively heavy wire element having its bight portion rigidlysecured to said plate and its free leg portions each terminating in .adownwardly sloping segment adapted to beengaged by the spring-biasedcover member in the closed status thereof; and means on the framecooperating with complemental means on the barrier assembly forreleasably locking said assembly in operative position relatively tosaid frame.

2. In combination with a journal box having an access opening in itsouter end wall, a spring-biased cover member normally closing saidopening, a pair of transversely spaced depending abutment lugs inwardlyof the access opening, an axle opening in its inner end wall, a wellportion for containing packing material, and an axle extending throughsaid axle opening and terminating in a journal suspended above saidwell: a device for prevent.- ing displacement of the packing materialrelatively to said journal in consequence of journal movementscomprising: a generally rectangular frame adapted to be bent into asubstantially U-shaped configuration. to facilitate its insertion intosaid box via said access opening disposed beneath the journal in saidwell portion, said frame including a pair of transversely spaced sideplates that are joined by a pair of longitudinally spaced straps ofspring metal material, the inherent resiliency of said strapsautomatically causing said plates to bear against the jour nal box sidewalls whereby to maintain the frame rigidly in position; means providedon the upper ends of the side plates to confine packing materialdisposed beneath said journal against upward movements thereof; abarrier assembly also insertable via said access opening to confine saidpacking material against outward movements thereof, said assemblyincluding a crescent-shaped plate, a generally U-shaped relatively heavywire element having its bight portion rigidly secured to said plate andits free leg portions each terminating in an undulated end portionadapted to engage the undersurface of one of said abutment lugs, andterminating in a downwardly sloping segment adapted to be engaged by thespring-biased cover member in the closed status thereof; and means onthe frame cooperating with complemental means on the barrier assemblyfor releasably locking said assembly in operative position relatively tosaid frame.

3. The construction set forth in claim 2, and a pair of spaced integralupwardly curved extensions projecting from the lower marginal edge ofsaid crescent-shaped plate and adapted to engage against the outer endWall of said journal box.

4. The construction set forth in claim 2, wherein the means on the framecooperating with complemental means on the barrier assembly forreleasably locking said assembly in operative position relatively tosaid frame include a pair of transversely spaced lock fingers eachrigidly secured to the outer of said pair of longitudinally spacedspring metal straps of the frame and adapted to engage in a pair oftransversely spaced notches provided in the lower marginal edge of thecrescent-shaped plate of said assembly.

5. In a packing retainer of the character described, a generallyrectangular frame member comprising in combination: a pair oftransversely spaced metallic side plates; a pair of longitudinallyspaced inner and outer straps of highly resilient spring steel materialhaving their end portions rigidly secured to said side plates; a pair oftransversely spaced lock fingers rigidly secured to the outer of saidstraps; an integral extension forming the outer end of each side plate;a flange segment on each of said extensions having a notch formedtherein; a slightly curved formation constituting the corner of eachextension; an integral flange on each side plate forwardly of the saidextension thereon; a sheath of rubber or like material encasing eachsaid flange; and fastening elements for securing said sheaths to saidflanges.

6. In a packing retainer of the character described, a barrier assemblycomprising in combination: a substantially crescent-shaped plate; a pairof spaced notches formed in the lower marginal edge of said plate; anintegral upwardly curved extension projecting from said lower marginaledge adjacent each of the notches aforesaid of said plate; a generallyU-shaped relatively heavy wire element including a bight portion rigidlysecured to said plate and upwardly extending free leg portions; and anundulated end terminating in a downwardly sloping segment forming theextremity of each leg portion.

7. The construction set forth in claim 2, wherein the means provided onthe upper ends of the side plates to confine packing material disposedbeneath the journal against upward movements thereof comprise: anintegral References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS Herr j May 3, 1955

